Move Over Endocrine and Immune, It’s the Endocannabinoid System’s Time to Shine

If you’ve been seeing a lot of news and hearing a lot of talk about CBD lately it should come as no surprise. This cannabinoid found in hemp-oil extract has become the newest nutraceutical to exhibit several beneficial uses. But what is it, and how exactly does it work?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of hundreds of active cannabinoids that are found in the plant they’re named after, Cannabis Sativa. Of those hundreds, two will sound familiar to most people. CBD and THC. While THC is famous for being the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, CBD is the non-psychoactive one that is believed to provide all of the medicinal benefits associated with medical-grade cannabis.

But what exactly are these cannabinoids interacting with? That would be the Endocannabinoid System (or ECS). The ECS is a network of presynaptic receptors in our brains that react with enzymes to control different aspects of our bodies.

It is the effects of CBD on these receptors that scientists have been studying in order to determine the different medicinal benefits that have been associated with CBD. These studies have been so successful that the US government even issued a patent for CBD that highlights its potential for use in medical treatment.

So there you have a little bit of the science behind how this incredible extract works.